By Adonis Byemelwa
Arusha, Tanzania – A family is in
distress after two children went missing under mysterious circumstances on July
24, 2024. The children, who are students at Olosiva Primary School in Arumeru
District, reportedly boarded a public minibus (daladala) to school but never
arrived and have not been seen since.
Arusha Regional Police Commander,
SACP Justine Masejo, confirmed receiving the report on the morning of July 25,
2024 and stated that investigations are underway. "We received the report
this morning and are actively working on it. We will provide updates as soon as
we have more information," said SACP Masejo.
Elizabeth Modesta (31), the mother
of the missing children, identified them as Mordekai Maiko (7), a third grader,
and Masiai Maiko (9), a fifth grader. She recounted the harrowing events,
stating that she prepared her children for school as usual and saw them off at
the bus stop.
"Typically, they arrive home
between 3:30 and 3:45 PM, but yesterday they hadn't returned by 4 PM. I went to
the school at 5 PM to inquire, only to be told they had not been seen since
morning. I was overwhelmed with worry and immediately reported the matter to
the Ngaramtoni police station," Elizabeth said.
Upon reporting the incident, police
advised her to return home and wait for 24 hours before officially filing a
missing person report. "I returned home distraught and spent the night
worrying. This morning, I went back to the school, but they still hadn't seen
my children. I then went to the police, who issued me a report number
(NGT/RB/1265/2024) and requested photos of my children to disseminate online,
along with my contact information," she added.
Elizabeth has appealed to the
public and government authorities for help in locating her children. "I've
been reaching out to friends and family, asking them to share my children's
photos. I've searched everywhere without success. I plead with anyone who sees
them to take them to the nearest police station. My heart is heavy with worry,
and I pray they are safe until they are found," she said, her voice
breaking with emotion.
Olosiva Primary School headteacher,
Mwenzine Msuya, confirmed the children have not been seen since yesterday and
that the school is actively participating in the search. "These children
have no history of missing school. We were surprised when their mother inquired
yesterday, and she returned today with the same concern. We are distributing
their photos and urging anyone with information to contact their mother or any
police station," said the headteacher.
The alarming disappearance of the
Maiko children adds to a troubling pattern of child abductions in the region.
Recently, several individuals were detained in the Pwani Region for spreading
false information about child abductions. Authorities have cautioned against
sharing unverified information, which can hinder investigations and spread
unnecessary panic. In response to the rising concerns, local governments and
community leaders are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any
suspicious activities to the authorities. The situation underscores the
importance of community awareness and cooperation in ensuring the safety of all
children.